SELECTIVE HEARING
by Robert Berman
this four piece band alongside Steve Evans, The last three songs form a second trilogy about
Reuben Hersant, and Jonny Bird. These songs escaping the lonely prison in your mind instead
belong on radio alongside Radiohead, Imagine of “wearing the stripes of the shutter shadows”
Dragons, and Muse for all the right reasons: there.
Driving rhythms, strong vocals, and hooky Tyler Chester deserves a Grammy for a crisp
melody lines. The lyrics tend toward abstract “you are there” immediacy that especially pays
In the 1990s, “special project” albums like At struggles. Opening track “Don’t Be Long” off on closing stomper “To Another Land.”
the Foot of the Cross and Exodus gathered rings with the keening vocals, steady 8th-note diverse artists to release new songs together, bassline, and echoing guitar of October-era U2, producing some of the most memorable tracks but “Dead in the Water” boasts fat analog synth of the decade like Steve Hindalong’s “Beautiful sounds worthy of The Killers, while “Break Away” Scandalous Night” and DC Talk’s “My Will.” Book rides high on a disco-era hi-hat line. Is the fierce tie-in projects became common, celebrating “Batteries” the best of the set? Is it the banshee works by Oswald Chambers, Max Lucado, and guitar of “River”? You be the judge.
STU GARRARD/VARIOUS ARTISTS
Beatitudes
others. Stu Garrard, former Delirious? guitarist
and current MWS sideman, joins both sides of
that tradition with a new book, “Words from the
Martin Smith represents the 90’s; Audrey Assad,
Matt Maher, All Sons & Daughters, The Brilliance,
John Mark McMillan, Anthony Skinner, Hillsong
United, and Terrian Bass represent prominent and
rising artists of the 21st century. Becky Harding
provides several spoken word interludes. This
is an admirable collection of songs focusing on
the ethical teachings of Jesus. Grant’s “Morning
Light,” Assad’s Mideastern-tinged “I Will Be Your
World,” McMillan’s “Heaven is Around Us,” and
Propaganda’s “Make a Little Trouble” stand out
on this collection that celebrates both Christ and
Christian music while calling us to follow with our
hands and feet, not just our mouths.
ARMY OF BONES
Army of Bones
Stu G is not the only former Delirious?
member making waves. Martin Smith, already
successful with a string of solo albums as
well as his international development work
with CompassionArt, returns as a member of
58
Franklin return with a sophomore set of driving
garage rock. The gang vocal “Woah-ohs”
returning producer Joe Causey steers the band
through a bare-bones rock sound straight
album collecting collaborators from across the
Delirious? (and current Army of Bones) frontman
COLONY HOUSE
Only the Lonely
are very much of the moment, but otherwise
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), and an
Smith and Amy Grant represent the 80’s; former
player
Steven Curtis Chapman’s sons Caleb and Will
MADISON CUNNINGHAM
Love, Lose, Remember (EP)
Hill” reflecting on the Beatitudes from Jesus’
history of modern Christian music. Michael W
Producer/engineer/pianist/bass
out of a Beatle-free 1960’s, coil reverb effects
Are you tired of pop songs that just rotate the and all. Spiritual content stays more muted
same four chords endlessly like they were this time out, with the only song that mentions
programmed on a computer, which they God also containing a casual “hell.” Gone too
probably were? Here’s your antidote. Six songs are the ballads; this is a straight out rock effort,
like A Fine Frenzy, or Sarah Jarosz singing consistent without monotony. Twenty years from
languorous out-takes from Joni Mitchell’s now, when someone asks you what rock was
classic Court and Spark jazz-folk album. like in the mid 2010’s, this will be a good album
Cunningham’s 2014 debut album had a Sara to pull out.
Groves/Carole King gospel pop feel: nice, but
JENNY & TYLER
For Freedom II (EP)
not astonishing. This time out, complex chords,
chill-inducing strings, saxophone, and acoustic
guitar and piano textures combine for a deeply
satisfying listening experience, courtesy of a
stellar band, including master percussionist
Jay Bellerose (from too many T-Bone Burnett
projects to mention), guitarist Sean Watkins After a live album last fall, Mr. and Mrs. Somers
(Nickel Creek), and guitarist Adam Levy (Norah return with a four song sequel to their well-
Jones, Tracy Chapman). Music runs in her received For Freedom covers EP from 2013.
blood; Cunningham’s father Scott leads and Acoustic guitars and close harmonies still remain
teaches worship music at Calvary Chapel Costa the duo’s selling points. U2 makes a glorious
Mesa, but these songs are more slice-of-life return in the J&T set list with the compassionate
than worship-oriented. The first three songs eulogy “Walk On,” while Coldplay’s “Fix You”
contemplate the aging process as it affects continues the theme of solace. Extra harmonies
individuals, married couples, and generations adorn their version of Collective Soul’s childbirth
respectively: “Time doesn’t wait for anybody. classic
It just turns into the past,” she says while Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” closes out the set
contemplating who she was “many girls ago.” and leaves the listener hungry for an encore.
July 2017
WorshipMusician.com
“Lightning
Crashes,”
while
Judy